Detachable electrical connectors and attaching means therefor



N. F. DAMON 3,004,238

DETACHABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AND ATTACHING MEANS THEREFOR Oct. 10,1961 Original Filed Feb. 17, 1956 R H m MN NN R W m N M r /0p A 5% MMThis is a continuation of my ,copending, application, Serial No.566,292, filed February 17, 1956, now abandoned. 1

This invention relates to detachable electrical connectors, particularlythose of the smallest size adapted to receive a standard 0.080" probe,and, more particularly, to

means for fastening such connectors in a hole in a panel.

The connector and fastening means of this invention constitute animprovement of the connector forming the subject matter of my PatentNumber 2,685,07 3.

The connector of the above-mentioned patent comprises a tubularinsulating bushing formed with an interior shoulder and aconductive'tubular member with tapered resilient fingers, having latchesformed at one end that slip past the shoulder on the inside of thebushing when the conductive part is inserted, and which spring outwardto retain the conductive part within the bushing after insertion. Theimprovement of this invention consists in forming the shoulder furtherinto the bushing and in setting a metallic sleeve against this shoulderon its outer side in the region where the inserted bushing makes contactwith the opening in the panel. The result is to expand the portion ofthe bushing Within the panel to hold the connector firmly in place. Thesleeve accomplishes this result without adding to the externaldimensions of the connector. Thus, a connector of thisconstruction lendsit self to use in miniatured equipment. I

Other and further advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe description thereof progresses, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings where- FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of apreferred embodiment of the connector; and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 when theconnector is assembled and mounted in an opening in a panel.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numeral designates a bushing ofinsulating material made in tubular form with an enlarged portion 11 atone end, a tapered restricted portion 12 at the other, with a shoulder13 formed between them. This shoulder 13 forms a support when thebushing is panehrncunted. A recess 14 is formed on the inside of therestricted portion 12 of the bushing 10. .The inside diameter of theenlarged section 11 is larger than that of the restricted section 12.Another shoulder 15 is formed on the inside of the bushing 10 wherethese two sections meet. A metallic sleeve 16 is inserted in theenlarged section 11. This sleeve has a length longer than the thicknessof the panel 17, into which the connector is to be mounted, and anoutside diameter slightly greater than the inside diameter of thesection of the bushing 10 of greatest diameter, and of an insidediameter at least as great as that of the section 12 of the bushing ofleast inside diameter. The opening at the enlarged end 11 of the bushing10 is formed with a taper 18 to receive a probe (not shown). Theconductive part 20 of the connector is tubular in shape with one endformed into tapered fingers 21 separated by slots 22. Latches 23 areformed on one end of at least one, and preferably all, of these fingers21. An annular flange 24 is formed near the end of the conductive piece20 opposite to the fingers 21. A lug 25 is fitted over the same end ofthe conductive piece 20 against the flange 24 and fastened to it by anyconvenient methmerely-for ease in insertion into the opening ice ods,such as staking and soldering, to form a means for connecting one ormore conductors to the conductive piece In use, one of the conductors tobe connected or a point to which a voltage is to be measured isconnected to the lug 25, and the bushing 10 is inserted into an opening26 in the panel 17 until stopped by the shoulder 13. The slightlyoversize sleeve 16 is inserted into the outer end of the bushing 10until it rests against the inner shoulder 15. in forcing this sleeveinto the bushing, the material between the sleeve and the opening 26 inthe panel 17 is compressed. This compression is compensated for by aswelling of the material on the inside of the panel, forming a bulgewhich retains the bushing firmly in the opening in the panel. Theconductive piece 2%} of the connector is then inserted in the bushing 10from the innerend 12, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. When the conductivepiece 20 is inserted into the interior of the bushing 10, the fingers 2dare compressed together in passing through the restricted portion 1 2 ofthe bushing until thelatches 23 pass the outer end of the sleeve 16,, atwhich point they expand to latch the conductive piece 29 into thebushing lid; At the same time, the flange 24 contacts the recess 14 toprevent further. penetration by the conductive piece 20. The conductivepiece 20 is firmly held within the bushing 10 by the latches 23 on thefingers 21 and the contact of the fiange24 with the shoulder 14. Theconductivepiece 26 can easily be removed from the bushing 10 by pressinginward on the fingers 21 suificiently to release the latches 23 topermit the conductive piece 20 to pass out through the sleeve 16 and therestricted portion 12 of the bushing 10. p

If desired, the conductive piece can be formed with an integral,turret-type terminal, such as that shown in FIG. 3 of the cited patent.While the portion 12 of the bushing 10 of restricted diameter is showntapered, this is 26 in the panel. 17, and is not necessary to theoperation of the invention. i ;This invention is not limited to theparticular details of construction, materials and processes described,as'many equivalents will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be given a broadinterpretation commensurate with the scope of the invention within the,art.

What is claimed is: l Y

1. A detachable electrical connector adapted to be mounted in anaperture, in a mounting panel, comprising a resilient tubular insulatingsupport member having a transverse internal shoulder separating saidsupport member into two portions of different internal cross-sectionalareas and a transverse external shoulder separating said support memberinto two portions of different external oross-sectional areas, saidexternal shoulder being adapted to abut the periphery of amounting-panel aperture, said internal and external shoulders beingrelatively displaced longitudinally of said tubular support member withthe surfaces thereof being disposed in opposed facing relationship todefine therebetween a longitudinal mounting portion of said supportmember wherein the portion of smaller external cross-sectional areaoverlaps the portion of larger internal cross-sectional area, asubstantially rigid tubular member of a length at least equal to thelength of said longitudinal mounting portion and of an externalcrosssectional area greater than the internal cross-sectional area ofsaid mounting portion of said support member, said rigid tubular memberbeing adapted to be positioned within said mounting portion with one endthereof abutting and a conductive tubular member adapted to be insertedwithin said support member in contact with said rigid tubular member atsaid second shoulder, said conductive tubular member having a pluralityof resilient fingers at one end thereof extending through said rigidtubular member, at least one of said fingers having a latch comprisingan enlarged end of said finger tapering to the end of the finger andforming a shoulder located by and latched with said second shoulder, anda flange near the remaining end of said conductive tubular memberadapted to bear against a portion of said support member to retain saidconductive tubular member therein in cooperation with such latch finger.

2. A detachable electrical connector adapted to be mounted in anaperture in a mounting panel, comprising a resilient tubular insulatingsupport member having a transverse internal shoulder separating saidsupport member into two portions of diiferent internal cross-sectionalareas and a transverse external shoulder separating said support memberinto two portions of diiferent external cross-sectional areas, saidexternal shoulder being adapted to abut the periphery of amounting-panel aperture, said internal and external shoulders beingrelatively displaced longitudinally of said tubular support member withthe surfaces thereof being disposed in opposed facing relationship todefine therebetween a longitudinal mounting portion of said supportmember wherein the portion of smaller external cross-sectional areaoverlaps the portion of larger internal cross-sectional area, asubstantially rigid tubular member of a length at least equal to thelength of said longitudinal mounting portion, the externalcrosssectional area of said rigid tubular member being greater than theinternal cross-sectional area of said mounting portion of said supportmember and the internal cross-sectional area of said rigid tubularmember being at least as great asthe smaller of the two internalcross-sectional areas of said support member, said rigid tubular memberbeing adapted to be positioned within said mounting portion with one endthereof abutting said internal shoulder to provide a rigid secondinternal shoulder within said support member and to urge said mountingportion outwardly into firm gripping relationship with the periphery ofsuch mounting-panel aperture, and a conductive tubular member adapted tobe inserted within said support member in contact with said rigidtubular member at said second shoulder, said conductive tubular memberhaving a plurality of resilient fingers at one end thereof extendingthrough said rigid tubular member, at least one of said fingers having alatch comprising an enlarged end of said finger tapering to the end ofthe finger and forming a shoulder located by and latched with saidsecond shoulder, and a fiange near the remaining end of said conductivetubular member adapted to bear against a port-ion 4 of said supportmember to retain said conductive tubular member therein in cooperationwith such latch finger.

3. A detachable electrical connector adapted to be mounted in anaperture in a mounting panel, comprising a resilient tubular insulatingsupport member having a transverse internal shoulder separating saidsupport member into two portions of different internal cross-sectionalareas and a transverse external shoulder separating said support memberinto two portions of different external cross-sectional areas, saidexternal shoulder being adapted to abut the periphery of amounting-panel aperture, said internal and external shoulders beingrelatively displaced longitudinally of said tubular support member withthe surfaces thereof being disposed in opposed facing relationship todefine therebetween a longitudinal mounting portion of said supportmember wherein the portion of smaller external cross-sectional areaoverlaps the portion of larger internal cross-sectional area, asubstantially rigid tubular member having first and second oppositelyoriented abutments thereon adapted to be positioned Within said supportmember with said first abutment in contact with said internal shoulder,said rigid tubular member extending in the direction of said externalshoulder at least as far as a position in substantial alignment with theplane of a mounting panel into which said support member is inserted,the external cross-sectional area of said rigid tubular member extendingfrom said first abutment to said position being greater than theinternal cross-sectional area of said mounting portion to urge saidmounting portion outwardly into firm gripping relationship with theperiphery of such mounting-panel aperture, and a conductive tubularmember adapted to be inserted Within said support member in contact withsaid rigid tubular member at said second abutment, said conductivetubular member having a plurality of resilient fingers at one endthereof extending through said rigid tubular member, at least one ofsaid fingers having a latch comprising an enlarged end of said fingertapering to the end of the finger and forming a shoulder located by andlatched with said second abutment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,982,464

